New Year's Exercise Resolutions that Stick

Woohoo-Christmas is over and now you’re getting ready to start a brand new year! If you’re not figuring out how to continue your workout plan in the next year, then you might be considering how to begin one in the first place. One thing is for certain, you don’t want to be a member of the “January Club.” We’ve all seen them—these are the joggers out on January 1st at 6:00am that are nowhere in sight on February 1st. What happened? Why did all their passion and enthusiasm allow them to quit before even a single month was over? It’s all about the choices you make. The most important thing when you’re making an exercise resolution or planning a workout schedule at the gym is to find something you love! Whatever workout you do or class you choose—it has to be something you enjoy doing! If not, then you’re not going to stick with it, no matter how much you guilt trip yourself. How do you know what the right class is?

First, take a look at what’s offered and then compare those to activities you would do in your off-time because you enjoy them so much. This should be an activity or workout that drives you even on the days you don’t want to show up.

You’re tired, draggin’, just want to stay home, but you make yourself go to the gym anyway…and when you get there and start your routine, you enjoy it so much, you can’t believe you considered staying home. Now, you know you’ve chosen the right one! There are classes for everyone to enjoy—spin, aerobics, Zumba, kickboxing, Pilates, TRX and the list goes on. Talk to a personal trainer and see how you can combine some of these into a personal workout for you individually as well. Another way to make sure you stick to your plan is to find an accountability partner. Accountability is everything!

Those days when it’s raining outside and you want to stay home aren’t going to keep you from reaching your goals anymore. Why? Because when someone is planning to meet you and waiting for you to show up, there’s a lot more personal pressure to show up and work hard. You might have let yourself cop out if not for them. When you’re choosing an accountability/workout partner, find someone that is even more passionate about reaching their fitness goals than you are. This makes a difference because they’re going to drive you and motivate you to work harder and keep going, despite how you’re feeling that day. You can find a partner like this in a personal trainer, a friend, a family member, whoever you enjoy spending time with, but make sure you get that person by your side. Give yourself the tools you need to succeed before you begin, and your results are going to be everything you envisioned and more! Happy New Year!